Geek Syndicate
I can’t imagine there are many people in the United
Kingdom, America, Europe or beyond who have not
heard of the Saxon bowman, Robin Hood. The legendary outlaw has been the subject of many adaptations in various media from comics through books
to television and film. It seems that the twenty-first
century in particular has seen a resurgence in the hero’s popularity. We’ve seen a popular BBC television
series, a blockbuster movie starring Russell Crowe
and numerous novel series all produced in the last
ten years.
It’s a story that everyone knows:
In the twelfth century, King Richard was away from his
throne and his villainous brother ruled Britain with a
cruel disregard for the populous. Along with other villainous accomplices including the Dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisburne, Prince John raised taxes,
razed villages and was generally a rotten sort. Against
them stood Robin Hood – a man who had been unjustly
outlawed and the gang of Merry Men he gathered around
him. Robin and company robbed from the rich, gave to the
poor and defended the locals of Nottinghamshire whilst
managing to foil John’s plot and help Richard return to his
throne! Hurray!
Except that’s not the story at all. Not as originally presented.
In this article, I will outline the evolution of the stories of
Robin Hood over time. We’ll see how new elements (now
taken for granted) were added over time to suit the needs
of the populace or even simply those who were putting
pen to paper or fingers to keyboard to detail the rebel’s
adventures. In an episode of the Dissecting Worlds podcast, I was a guest host in their rebels and revolutionaries series. It was during my research for and recording of
that episode that the idea for this article was spawned.
By no account is this a complete summary of every Robin
Hood tale ever told, nor is it an examination of the legend in a historical context. Rather, it is intended to provide
an overview of our Outlaw hero as he has been presented
over the centuries.
BACK TO THE BEGINNING: BALLADS FOR THE
COMMON FOLK
“Robin Hood in Barnsdale stood.”
A quote from 1429 reflects the Yorkshire location of many
of the early ballads. In the earliest surviving ballads, Robin
Hood is a Yeoman who has been outlawed for the crime
of Venison. Or possibly for killing the forester who tried
to arrest him for that crime. “Venison” as a crime was the
unauthorized slaying of a deer in the kings forest. While
generally jovial, our legendary hero was quick to boredom
and quick to anger. Many ballads begin with Robin either
bored or having an argument with Little John.
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Robin is acquisitive. He robs those who can afford it to fill
his own coffers. Often he will trick people. He will invite a
passing knight or bishop (sometimes at sword point) to
dine with him in one of his forest camps. Once the meal
is over, he demands payment from his guest then sends
them on their way. This, I feel, is a reflection of the intended audience of the ballad. Robin is a common man who
has been wronged by the noble folk. He gets his own back
on those who benefit from the common man’s toiling and
through him, so too did the audience.
This theme is also seen in a different aspect in a number of
tales. Whenever Robin Hood accosts a traveler, he invariably ends up in combat with them. If they are a common
tradesman, then Robin loses the fight, blows on his horn
and is rescued by his outlaw band. Merriment ensues and
the tradesman helps Robin later in the ballad. Should the
waylaid person be a trained knight, man-at-arms or other
such “noble” person, Robin will defeat them. Sometimes
victory comes easily, sometimes after a long and hardfought battle.